River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1887-09-08
NORTHWESTERN NEWS.

Mary Sylvester, working girl, aged
jaw, dislocated hip and fractures of all the
ribs of her right side, the result of jump
from third story window to escape from
brute, named Lou Murray, the manager of
an employment office The girls story as
told by her to Dr. Kilvington is as follows:
Her name is Mary Sylvester, and her home
is at Swan River, seven miles from Little
Falls She came to the city with a view of
obtaining a clerkship, having been induced
to do so by one of Murray's advertisements.
Upon her arrival at Minneapolis Murray
employed her as clerk at 81 per week and
board. On Tuesday night Murray informed
her that he had a very comfortable room
for her and accompanied her to Mrs.
Sawyers. He went with her to room
twelve on pretext of showing her the apart
meRt, and after a short time his evil inten-
ton became apparent. He locked the door
to prevent her escape Failing to accom-
plish his purpose he resorted to violence.
After struggle, during which she tried to
alarm the house, she begged him to let her
get drink of water, and soon as he
opened the door she leaped through the
window on the third floor. During the
summer Mary with her sister had worked
for o. s. Gates at Excelsior, and that gen
tleman as wei las all knowing her say her
character is above reproach. Her injuries
may prove fatal. Great indignation is felt
and expressed and new found and powerful
friends will not only provide her with care
but will see that the monster Murray has
his Just deserts. The Tribune suggested
fund for the injured girl and this was re
sponded to with $500, the first day, from
prominent business men and citizens, and
$. f. Olson a. Co., rendered her perma-
nent situation in their store should she re-
cover The feeling in Minneapolis was so
strong that the Sheriff deemed it advisable
to take his prisoner TO st. Paul as a pre-
caution against lynching In the police
court Murray was held in g, 500 bail, but no
attempt was made to give it and he was
very glad to be taken to the st. Paul jail
VIM. Casper of La Crosse, until
lately keeping the Frokock hotel is in
trouble, through fire in that building. A
few DAYS ago Casper sent his family to
Savannah, ILL.,, to attend the wedding of a
daughter, and announced that he would
close the house for a few days and go down
for the same purpose. Ii was reported that
he was going to leave the city permanently,
but he publicly announced In a newspaper
that he would be back in few
days. He left on the Burlington train at
10: 5 p. m. and the fire broke out about
midnight. The firemen discovered dishes
of kerosene on the floors of the rooms and
the floors were saturated with kerosene,
and the windows tightly closed with
blankets There were also candles ON the
-
alleged that recently Casper has shipped
most of his furniture from the city. He
had 8, so insurance, and tie stuff remain
ing in the house was not worth $780, so the
police say. The presumption is that he
liked his torches and FASTENED to the train,
expecting to be beyond the reach of sus-
picion when the fire broke out. On notice
by telegraph he was arrested and is in Jail
at Savannah.
Mrs Caroline Seal, living in Albany,
Stearns County, committed suicide. While
her husband was sick and unable to be up,
she left the house, ostensibly to do some
work but went a short distance from the
house and hung herself to the limb of a
tree. After twenty four hours of anxious
waiting, the invalid husband sent his
fourteen year-old girl TO some of the
neighbors to induce them to make a search
for Mrs Seal, which they did and soon
found her within about 100 feet of her
house. The family came from Wisconsin
about a year ago, and Mrs. Seals action is
said to have been on account OF family
troubles.
John Schimmelpffen and George
Shultz, two prisoners in the county jail, at
Merrill Wis, drilled through the walls Of
the jail and were caught in the act of escap-
ing. They had been allowed the freedom
of the corridors at night, and took adj
vantage of it.
The annual report of wheat handling
at Duluth, Mimi, shows a large increases of
business. The year just closed exceeds the
heaviest previous year 10y near s,OOO,OOO
bushels. The total movement represents
handling of a, 04l ,0s0 in elevators aud about